A recent graduate from Harvard College with a degree in Environmental Science and Public Policy, I am looking to use my knowledge of and passion for energy and sustainability to write about innovators in those fields. Having spent the last four years covering Cambridge for The Harvard Crimson, I have a soft spot for Boston-area startups. I hail from suburban western Massachusetts but have a love for metropolitan life. I previously wrote for Money, The New London Day, and The Hartford Courant.

Anchors Aweigh: UberBOAT Launches In Boston As Temporary Water Taxis

Amidst protest from taxicab drivers and pending regulation from the Boston city government, Uber Boston has launched a new test venture to excite its smartphone-carrying clients. From June 4 to June 15, UberBOAT will allow Bostonian travelers to request — via the Uber app — a water taxi that will bring them to stops throughout the Boston Seaport.

The San Francisco-based startup is not simply recruiting local boaters as in the style of the UberX car service but rather has partnered with Boston Harbor Cruises, a company that has historically offered cruises, group tours, and private charters. Since acquiring City Water Taxi in April 2014, Boston Harbor Cruises operates the city’s water taxi service.

After spending some time rebranding the eight vessels in the fleet, Boston Harbor Cruises relaunched the water taxi service alongside the temporary partnership with Uber.

“We thought Uber had a great model for people to quickly, easily, and reliably book transportation around the city,” said Alison Nolan, general manager at Boston Harbor Cruises.

The UberBOAT model has been tested in other cities, including Sydney, Amsterdam, Baltimore, and Uber’s homebase San Francisco when the potential of a metro worker strike motivated a transportation alternative. Boston is the only long-term test city other than UberBOAT in Muskoka, Canada for all long weekends this summer.

“In Boston, we have a waterfront district that is known for its innovation. It seemed natural that we partner with Boston Harbor Cruises to offer access to our system,” said Meghan Joyce, general manager of Uber’s Boston office.

According to Joyce, Uber vetted the system weeks before the launch to make sure the GPS between boats and smartphone users worked on the water. Using the Uber app, the UberBOAT option becomes available once travelers are within a quarter-mile of the Boston Harbor.

With the ease and success of implementation on the water, it brings to question how much, if at all, Uber is profiting from the water taxi business.

Pricing, as dictated by Boston Harbor Cruises, is not dependent on demand and travel time unlike the Uber car service, but instead is set at $10 per person. A 20% gratuity is automatically added. Uber is charging an additional $1 booking fee and is taking a percentage of the $10 fee, according to Joyce.

But, Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh has announced plans to regulate Uber and other new ride-sharing services that may include requiring drivers to obtain chauffeur licenses and insurance. According to Joyce, the company is receptive and willing to formally work with the city of Boston.

As evidenced on TwitterTwitter, Bostonians are rejoicing over the transportation alternative, amid jokes on the continuous dispute by medallion-holding taxi drivers.

Uber launches UberBOAT in Boston — and it’s NOT just the Duck Boat and it’s reasonably priced. Awesome! http://t.co/VLpQTDoaA0

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